Massage appliance.



No. 799,895. PATENTBD SEPT. 19, 1905. J. G. DOUGHTY 6; J. R. SANFORD. MASSAGE APPLIANCE APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2,1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT onnion.

JOHN G. DOUGHTY AND JOSEPH R. SANFORD, OF WINSTED, CONNECTICUT.

MASSAGE APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1905.

Application flied February 2, 1905. Serial No. 2%,881.

JOSEPH R. SANFORD, citizens of the United States, residing at Winsted, Litchfield county, Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Massage Appliances, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to massage appliances, and is essentially an improvement upon the devices made the subjects-matter of the United States Letters Patent formerly issued to us, respectively, as independent inventors as follows: No. 600,194, of March 8, 1898, and No. 720,847, of February 17, 1903.

The object of our invention is to provide a brush having certain features of novelty and utility not possessed by former articles of asimilar nature. Among these advantages will be found the provision of two separate working surfaces, either of which may be used independently of the other, the surface not being used as a working surface being of such a nature that it tends to cling to the hand of the user to such an extent as to eliminate the necessity 'of the usual strap handle.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of one working surface of our improved brush or massage appliance. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a View .of the opposite working surface of the brush or massage appliance illustrated in Fig. 1.

1 represents the body portion of the brush.

2 and 2 are a multitude of hollow projecting fingers arranged on opposite surfaces of the backing 1. The fingers 2 collectively constitute one working surface, while the fingers 2 collectively constitute the othenworking surface. Each of these fingers as constructed comprises a separate flat-ended tubular projection. The body 1 and the fingers 2 and 2 are preferably formed of rubber, the same being vulcanized to a suificient extent to give the necessary resiliency.- The thickness of the wall of each projection or finger is such that when the projection is compressed against a plain surface and then released it will quickly resume its original shape and create within itself a gentle suction, It is by availing ourselves of this construction that it is possible to eliminate the necessity of providing aseparate strap handle, since when the hand is compressed against either surface of the brush the multitude of suction-cups covered by the hand tend to cause the brush to adhere thereto.

In practice it willbe seen that the palm and fingers will overstand a large number of the sucti0n-cups,while the thumb will bear against a portion of the working surface. The body 1 being flexible permits the brush to readily conform to the curve of the hand, whereby a larger number of suction-cups will engage the same than-if the body 1 were rigid.

By having both surfaces of the body 1 provided with suction-cups the brush is reversible. The suction-cups upon the opposite surfaces may be of different sizes, which is a very desirable feature in many instances. It matters not which side up the brush is used, the surface next the hand tends to cling thereto to a sufficient degree to render its use much more effective than were said surface smooth and unbroken. The walls of the cups being yielding, the working surface may be rubbed over the body with a currying motion, producing a simultaneously cleansing and stimulating effect.

It should be understood, of course, that the mere addition of a strap wouldnot evade this invention, since such addition would be mere surplusage. By eliminating the necessity of a strap handle the confining pressure thereof is avoided, which in some instances is very desirable.

3 is a ring, which may be applied to the body 1 to aflord aconvenient means for hanging up the brush.

What we claim is- A brush for massage and like purposes, comprising a flexible body, a multitude of collapsible tubular projections arranged on opposite surfaces thereof, the walls of said projections being sufficiently thick and resilient to form suction-cups, the ends of said cups forming the massaging-surface.

JOHN G. DOUGHTY. JOSEPH R. SANFORD.

Witnesses:

WILBUR G. MANCHESTER, SOPHIA A. DOUGHTY. 

